Howdy folks!
We left Cochrane on Sept. 5th for the Cowboy Church in Sherwood Park, to start our tour of Northern Alberta. With the promise of warm weather, we looked forward to spending some time in the trailer. This will be the first time we will visit two of our Canadian National Baptist Convention churches in the northern part of the province (Peace Country). These are well-established churches and it will be an exciting opportunity to share the gospel in music and poetry, the cowboy way.
The Cowboy Church was well-attended and seemed to have grown since our last visit in February. Pastor Kevin was his usual welcoming self and we immediately felt right at home. Our first night out in the trailer was a new experience, as we we ran out of propane and spent a cold night under many blankets. Our next stop was in Evansburg at the Baptist Church. Pastor Al had been sick and we were glad to be able to help out with special music and poetry at the morning worship service and, a program for seniors at the Pembina Village in Evansburg in the evening. All in all, it proved to be a very full day of ministry.
After a day of rest, we were back on the trail heading for the Fairview Cornerstone Baptist Church in Fairview, Alberta. Again we had a very full day of ministry. I led the music and presented special music and poetry at the morning worship service. Later, in the afternoon we presented an outdoor cowboy gospel concert. This was the launch of their Sunday School ministry and both of these events were well attended. The weather was holding very warm during the day and it has sure been a very pleasant tour to this point.
We travelled only a short distance from Fairview to spend time with our friends Jerry and Rose Hale in Cleardale, Alberta. We first met them at the Cleardale Gospel Jamboree in the spring. They let us park in the yard and I was able to spend the week catching up with some writing projects, touring the area and having a good time of fellowship with the Hales. I even got to help out with my first branding! Jerry branded 10 cows and he was able to find something for me to do.
Our last concert was at the Worsley Baptist Church, Worsley, Alberta. Pastor Dick Hale and his congregation sure gave us a warm welcome. The church is of log construction, which added to the ambience of the cowboy gospel concert. We returned for the evening service and had a great time singing the old hymns and accompanying some of the songs with the guitar and harmonica. Next time, I'll bring the bass. What a great way to finish a tour.
On the way home, we stopped in Buck Lake, Alberta, to meet up with some dear friends, Iven and Lynne Bryant, and spent a couple of days touring the area and enjoying the fall weather. The Bryants have been supporters of our ministry since its inception and it was good to have an opportunity to fellowship with them.
After our short "vacation" at Buck Lake, we headed back to Cochrane to begin the serious work of getting the trailer winterized for storage and the yard cleaned up for the winter. Although the tour was shorter than usual, it was a real blessing to meet the pastors and folks in Fairview and Worsley. Their acceptance of our ministry was certainly encouraging and we look forward to another time when we can visit them again.
Thanks to all of you who continue to pray for us as we reach out with the gospel to folks in the small churches, especially, those in Alberta.
On the trail for Him,
Mike and Suzann
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Let me start by introducing myself, I am April Herring Ruiz, and I have a story to tell. It’s a true real life story that ends to soon. This is the story of a fallen but never forgotten Cowboy.
Not the fresh out of the store Cowboys you see now days, but a true to the heart real life old timer wrapped in the body of an ailing young man. My Cowboy was and always will be Chad Lee Thornton.
I met Chad back in 1991 I believe it was. Seems like, I have just always known him. I began dating his older brother at the time and Chad was the younger boy just under Chris. Chris was a Bare Back Rider and boy did Chad look up to him. Chad couldn’t wait to be old enough to Rodeo, only he wanted a shot at the Bulls. What can you say when Chad dreamed he dreamed big.
Chad’s dream had an obstacle though, one besides his mother. Chad suffered from Cystic Fibrosis. A life threatening Lung Disease, this made his body weaker than the average person. But, it never stopped Chad. He took the good with the bad and always reached for the stars. If only he knew what a bright star he was himself.
When Chad’s brother Chris left home for Chicago to serve a mission for the Lord, Chad became my dear and close friend. When my senior prom came, and the man I had pledged myself to could not be there, Chad stepped up and filled his brothers’ shoes like a pro. We took road trips together along with my cousin Jamie, the Three Musketeers we were. We even got lost on a mountain side one trip and spent the night huddled up in the back of our Blazer. Chad loved that! Stuck in the mountains with two older girls, But a gentleman he ALWAYS was.
My story could go on and on, as I look at Chad as one of the greatest men I ever had the pleasure of having in my life. He lived by the old ways, his word was his bond and he never backed down from a hard days work, a mean Bull, or a dream that wouldn’t come easy. If there was a soul in need he had a hand to lend.
He is truly a fallen Cowboy! The following is the Obituary as written by Christopher Cole Thornton, Chad’s big brother:
“CHAD THORNTON Chad Lee Thornton was a lifelong resident of Las Vegas, Nevada. Chad was born April 11, 1979. Chad passed away peacefully February 19, 2009, at the tender age of 29, after a lifelong battle with Cystic Fibrosis. Chad lived a full life and leaves behind a great legacy. Chad graduated from Rancho High School in 1997 and UNLV in 2006. Chad enjoyed the sport of rodeo and was a talented bull rider. He was a member of the National High School Rodeo Association with the Las Vegas Rodeo Team. During his years at UNLV, he was a member of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association with the UNLV Rodeo Team. Chad won the Rookie of the Year in the Inter-Mountain Professional Rodeo Association in 1998, as well as numerous other championships and awards Along with making countless and enduring friendships throughout his rodeo career. He was an Eagle Scout and member of The Order of The Arrow. Chad enjoyed spending time with his family and friends in Utah and Idaho, and lived for a short period in Logan, Utah, during his rodeo career, and returned there as often as time would permit. Chad had a passion for hunting upland game, waterfowl and coyotes, and was an excellent marksman. Chad also enjoyed fishing, camping, playing sports, and had a special love for the outdoors. Chad truly loved training his dogs. He had English Pointers and loved to watch them work the fields in Sonoita, Arizona. Chad was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was a primary worker in his ward. Chad worked as a contracts manager for SBBI of Sonoita. In the 29-plus years of Chad’s life, he has had far-reaching effects, touching the hearts and lives of family and friends. Chad always saw the best in everyone he met. Chad’s truest brother, Cole Thornton of Millville, Utah; sisters Robyn Toone of Vernal, Utah, and Kelly Allen of Thatcher, Utah; and brothers Jamie Thornton of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Michael Thornton of Provo, Utah. He has four nieces and six nephews.”
Although he is not here is body his spirit soars on. Chad was struck down so quickly; he left no insurance or any way of providing the proper burial and grave marking, so deserved by this precious soul.
So with my story come a plea to all you Cowboys and Cowgirls out there with a loving heart. The family and friend of Chad have managed to pull together and provide him a proper burial with one thing left undone. This special fallen Cowboy needs a head stone to tell everyone he was here and how special he was, and we can’t do it alone.
I as his biggest fan and loving friend am reaching out to all of you throughout the Cowboy community both far and wide to ask for help. Not for me but for my brother in every sense of the word. I know these are tough times but I also know that we can all open our hearts and donate at least $10.00. Chad was a giver and now he needs to be given to. Don’t let this amazing soul and unforgettable Cowboy go unremembered.
I am not one to make this kind of request or plea, especially to total strangers. However, I myself come from an old fashioned Cowboy and he has always taught me to follow my heart and never give up. I pledge to never give up on my brother Chad and my quest to provide him with a fitting and deserving Head Stone. Please help me.
My heart says my fellow Cowboy community has a big heart and a deep love for the ever so rare but true Cowboy. So please help my fallen Cowboy! If a soul on earth deserves this help it’s my Chad.
Donations can be made out to Christopher Cole Thornton and mailed to April H. Ruiz, PO Box 412, Alamo, Nevada 89001. EVERY donation will be followed by a thank you card so that you might know we received you kindness. Please send check or money order, don’t send cash because the mail is very unpredictable. And, please enclose a return address I never take a gift or help without returning a thank you.
Thank you for taking the time to hear my story and please keep Chad and his family in your prayers.
Sincerely,
April Herring Ruiz
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